Beta Testing

Hi! Happy Saturday to you and yours. J here, welcome! Back on Monday, Jamie wrote about critique and how the conflicting feedback can be troublesome. I’m writing on a related theme today – Beta Readers.

I think the difference between critique partners and beta readers is this: a writer seeks critique while working on a project; a writer seeks beta readers when the writer feels the project is finished.

I was thrilled last week, to put the finishing touches on my last round of edits for my WIP (Work In Progress) and I proudly emailed it off to my Beta Readers. Now, I’m an Indie Published writer, which means that there are far fewer eyes on my work before it gets into the hands of my adoring public. This makes having trusted beta readers especially important. Of course, I want my product to be the best that it can.

I selected my Beta Readers quite carefully. These two women are both writers, readers and moms. This book is a ‘Tween Adventure and these ladies’ boys are just out of their ‘tween years. Most importantly, these Beta Readers can be trusted to give it to me straight.

When I sent my baby out into the world last week, I expected my Beta Readers would love her as much as I do, but would be able to point out a couple of things that could use a bit of spit and polish. If only…

The first to respond felt that the story didn’t work as it was written and suggested extensive re-writes. In a conversation with the second, she agreed for the most part.

But upon reflection, I was able to see that they had give me a lot of valuable and specific feedback about what was and wasn’t working. And it’s up to me as the writer to determine what I want to modify. But I’d be a fool to ignore their thoughts, because frankly, after calming down, I realized that they’re right.

So, today, I’m back to the drawing board to work out those kinks. Thank you Beta Readers!

Today’s secret: If you are Indie Publishing especially, but also if you are seeking traditional representation, having trusted Beta Readers will help you improve your product.

Today’s question: What’s the most painful, but most useful reaction you’ve had to your work?

Sneak Peak:Stay tuned for exciting things coming soon! NY Times Bestselling author Lynn Kurland answered our questions about how she writes the wonderful things she does and Marketing Expert Jennifer Fusco is going to talk about making your authorial brand a social magnet!

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14 thoughts on “Beta Testing”

The most useful advice I ever received was when I got nailed for head hopping. While hearing that in itself wasn’t painful (she was right I needed to clear up my POV issues), making the extensive changes was arduous. But, once I got rolling, it was a lot of fun. It also proved to me that I could make my book better and I could handle the feedback. I chalk it up to a very valuable learning experience.

I know from personal experience that being told that you have to make tons of changes to your baby is painful but ultimately you have to follow your gut and do what you think will make your book the best.

Hi, Lauren. I’m stepping in for J since she’s out selling books today. Some of our CTRWA members are talking about indie publishing during the bonus session at the October 8 meeting. If you can make it, I’m sure many of your questions will be answered. As for beta readers, it’s useful to have two different kinds: at least one who reads and enjoys the genre in which you are writing (a reader, not a writer); and at least one who understands something of story crafting (a writer) and can help you find plot holes or inconsistencies, where your characters’ motivations are unclear, and where you are doing excessive telling rather than showing. It can be tough to find just the right people, but once you do you will come to rely on them. Good luck!

But your hero was lying for a really good reason, right? Like to protect somebody else? Personally, I don’t want to have to work too, too hard to understand a plot, but I like it to do some twisting and turning!

I don’t enter a lot of contests but I did, several years ago, enter one with the 1st 20 pages of my WIP (at the time). Three judges savagely torn up my baby for POV. Only one actually took the time to give me an example or two. From her feedback I did some research on this POV thingy and finally figured it out. Now I’m the POV purist.

For a couple of months last year, Jessica Andersen took the time to read my current WIP and with her feedback I had to completely rethink my plot and do a rewrite. I’m not going to say it wasn’t painful but I will tell you I took it to heart and rewrote and now have a MUCH better WIP. You’re absolutely right, J. Find someone you trust and listen to what they’re saying. But in the end, it’s up to YOU whether you make the changes. Trust your gut — just don’t trust it blindly.
Kathye

I did some mental head-slapping when I finally figured out POV. How lucky you were to have Jess look at your work. And yes, as we say here at the Scribes, you are the Author Goddess. Take what you agree with from your critiques, and leave the rest.

Nice write up J. I think Beta Readers are important. I know Steven King uses them, but I think he calls them Ideal Readers. He uses his wife and two very close friends. I would have to say that concept works well for him, wouldn’t you agree? I’m getting ready to finish up something I’m working on and have someone (a published author) read it too. Fingers crossed.

I agree J. Beta readers are an essential part of the writer’s process. I use my yoga buddies who are all avid readers and most of whom work as teachers, school psychologists and editors. They are great about catching me on typos (CU-V…um…don’t you mean CR-V?), and “the section where you wrote about her chakras didn’t work for me”. Point taken and section re-written. I love those obvious and easy fixes.

“You have too many subplots and you have to remove them.” That was much harder. I found I couldn’t remove any of my subplots in ON THIN ICE without changing the character arc, the protagonist’s motivation or the story ending. So I’ve dug my heels in (despite several people–including published authors–telling me the same thing), in hopes that my readers will have no qualms about a more complex story line than is the norm for YA. One of the things I like about SP is that you don’t have to fit your story into a pre-conceived package. The idea that “this is the way it’s done because it’s always been done this way” goes against my grain.

Knowing the rules and then breaking them judiciously works much better for me. How do you think Nora Roberts gets away with head hopping? She has mastered the art of doing it well and she had such an avid following that her readers decided to keep reading even though she wasn’t following the usual rules of POV. They learned to accept the difference and even applaud it. Not that I should even put myself in the same sentence as NR, but I like to think that just because it’s different doesn’t make it wrong. Now if five people said, “the writing sucks–don’t quit your day job,” I’d have to re-think this whole publishing thing.